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'The Passion' Goes Beyond Compelling Movie-Making
By Mary Miller
SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL (January 21, 2004) - "He didn't just prick his finger with a
pin. He gave everything, did the whole thing."
This appreciative testimony about Christ's saving work came from Mel
Gibson, director of the upcoming movie The Passion of the Christ
that is set to hit theaters on Ash Wednesday, February 25. Gibson hosted a
premier showing of the much-talked-about movie at Willow Creek Community
Church on Tuesday afternoon for hundreds of invited pastors and other
special guests, including not only me, but also Sharon Dotson,
administrative assistant to the executive minister of the Department of
World Mission.
Gibson's role as brother, believer and Christian worshipper of Christ may
be surprising to some who know him only as movie star, sex symbol and
celebrity. And for some, the graphic telling of the Passion - a film art
portrayal of the final 12 hours of Christ's earthly life - probably was
even more surprising. The result of three years of meditative prayer and
active research, "the movie earned an honest 'R' rating," said Gibson.
It is not entertainment. It is scripture that is spiritually imagined and
visualized - scripture of the tortured execution of the Christ whom we know
died for us. If a picture is worth a thousand words, two hours of them
provide oceans of insight into the deep, unimaginable love of Christ. The
last 10 seconds of the resurrected Christ is stunning.
It takes a degree of maturity to take in the disturbing truth that is
portrayed, as well some prayerful time to absorb the heart meaning of what
the eyes view. My experience of the Lord's Supper is altered forever
because I saw the film. I believe The Passion of the Christ is a
real gift for Christ's body here and now.
"I had read that it was going to be very graphic," my co-worker Sharon said
following the screening. "And it is. But to me it showed truth in the
beatings that were given and the nails going into his hands. It's very
emotional seeing what he actually went through in such graphic detail. But
it's definitely a 'must see.' It's the best production I've seen of the
truth (of Jesus' life)."
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